Dickens` Colleagues Remember Fallen Jockey

With the flag flying at half-staff in memory of Rodney Dickens, the 20-year-old apprentice jockey who lost his life on the track Sunday, racing resumed at Sportsman`s Park on Monday afternoon.

It was an overcast and gloomy day, and the racetrack was shrouded with sadness in the wake of the tragedy.

``He was like a little brother to me,`` said jockey Kelly Wolf. ``If you didn`t like Rodney you didn`t like anybody. He was that kind of person.``

``He was a super young man, just a pleasure to be around,`` said Mike Vinci, who worked as Dickens` valet, keeping his saddle and equipment in order. ``Everything was `Yes, sir; no, sir.`

``He was so excited to be riding. Last week he came back from Kentucky and he was just beaming when he said to me: `I got a chance to ride on the turf course at Keeneland with the big guys.` That`s what he called guys like Craig Perret and Jerry Bailey, `the big guys.```

Two other jockeys-Sportsman`s leading rider, Francisco Torres, and Scott Miller-were injured when they were thrown from their horses in the chain-reaction spill. A fourth rider, apprentice John Arens, also was thrown but escaped injury.

Dickens died of traumatic cardiac arrest at MacNeal Memorial Hospital in Berwyn less than an hour after his fifth race spill.

Torres was listed in critical but stable condition Monday at Loyola Medical Center with chest injuries and a punctured lung.

Miller was back at the track but his right arm was in a sling and he said he will be sidelined for ``about a week.``

The tragic accident occurred going into the final turn.

Torres was third on the rail when his mount, Special Little Guy, broke down, flinging him to the track.

Dickens and his horse, Rough Pride, were unable to avoid the fallen thoroughbred, as were Miller on Pond Creek`s Boy and Arens on J. Tramelli.

``I saw Rodney`s horse take out to avoid something and I took my horse out,`` Miller said. ``Then, I saw him fly in front of his horse. It looked like his horse`s back hoof got him in the chest.``

Torres` horse had to be destroyed after breaking both sesamoids and the tearing the suspensory apparatus in his right front leg.

The other three horses finished the race without their riders and were uninjured.

A private memorial service for Dickens will be held Monday at noon in the paddock. The track chaplain, Rev. Dave Krueckeberg, will conduct the service. Dickens` body was taken to Whitesville, Ky., for visitation Tuesday at Cecil Funeral Home. Services will be held Wednesday afternoon at the funeral home followed by burial in St. Mary`s Cemetery in Whitesville.

Sportsman`s is in the process of establishing a memorial fund, vice-president and assistant secretary Charles Bidwill III said Monday.